Madonna has a tradition of employing the best clinicians in rehabilitation care. To continue this tradition, we collaborate with schools across the country that consistently produce top students.

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals requires interviews for students interested in applying for a clinical rotation. In addition, students must be currently enrolled at an accredited school (physical therapy, physical therapist assistant, occupational therapy, occupational therapist assistant, speech therapy, or recreation therapy). For undergraduate or pre-professional students inquiring about shadowing hours, please contact the volunteer office to coordinate these experiences at 402.413.4500 or visit www.madonna.org/volunteer.

Madonna makes final decisions regarding student placement for clinical rotations with emphasis on those students expressing goals and objectives similar to our core values and expertise. If you are a student interested in completing a rotation at one of our facilities, please check with your school first to verify that there is an established contract. If there is a contract, please request that your school contact the appropriate clinical coordinator listed below to request an affiliation. If you represent a university looking to establish a clinical rotation, please contact the appropriate clinical coordinator listed below.

If selected for an inpatient clinical rotation, possibilities of team placement could include:

The Research Institute has pioneered clinical affiliations, which include an integrated clinical collaboration with top universities. Currently, Judith Burnfield, PT, Ph.D., collaborates with multiple academic institutions and her students have participated as authors for 12 manuscripts and 50 abstracts to date. Physical and occupational therapy students are involved in unique, 16-week hybrid rotations that include a split between patient care and clinical research.

Housing

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals-Lincoln Campus is pleased to offer on-site student housing at a discounted rate. The unit is fully furnished and features five bedrooms, three baths, a full kitchen, dining room, living room, recreation and study space, free laundry, and free off-street parking. All utilities, including Wi-Fi, are included at a low rate of $8/day.

Testimonials

Actual comments from former students about our housing and clinical opportunities include the following:

"If you are a student who is truly serious about wanting to be the best, then a clinical at Madonna is a no brainer. You will be exposed to cutting-edge technology, support staff, and a plethora of student learning opportunities. The on-site student housing is extremely helpful, as it allows for more time and energy to be devoted to soaking up as much information as possible. Plus, it will allow you to bond with the other students from across the country and make connections in your career field." —Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Class of 2017

"I would highly recommend Madonna to any student, especially if interested in research. The research hybrid rotation gave me the opportunity to experience working in a leading research lab during my PT clinical. As a student, I was fully immersed in all aspects of the research being performed at the Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering. Madonna provides an amazing learning environment for students with a strong emphasis on collaboration and teamwork. Students can participate in diverse learning opportunities, journal clubs, and be exposed to various units of the hospital if desired. On top of that, Madonna offers student housing conveniently located just a few steps away from the hospital. Lincoln is a fun city and it was great to live with students who wanted to explore the area!" —Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Class of 2017

“Madonna housing was extremely convenient for me due to its close proximity as it allowed me to put in the extra time at the beginning or end of the day and spend more time learning, especially in the fast-pace environment. I also loved living with other students as it gave me the opportunity to learn more about other disciplines at the hospital and build a support system during my rotation. I made some great friendships from the time I spent in housing and carry those on today. The student program itself is beyond excellent, I felt valued as another clinician and that my input was encouraged at all times. Madonna really welcomed me as part of the team immediately and I had great support from all the staff, not just my clinical instructor, throughout my fieldwork.” —Occupational Therapy, Rush University, Class of 2015